Tips for Starting a Cattle Ranch Part 1

When you browse the market and see all of the great Florida cattle ranches for sale, it’s easy to see why more and more people are starting their own cattle ranches. Starting your own cattle ranch can be both profitable and fulfilling, but before you get started, it’s important to understand some of the fundamental elements of a successful cattle ranch.

In this two-part article, the land experts at Saunders Real Estate will provide tips for rookie cattle ranchers starting their first cattle ranch. By following these tips, you can take advantage of the profitable cattle ranches for sale in Florida.

Follow Your Passion

If you have decided to purchase one of the cattle ranches for sale in Florida, you probably have an authentic interest in ranching. Being a cattle rancher isn’t for everyone; it’s hard work, and most people aren’t willing to put forth the effort to run a successful cattle ranch. If you truly have a passion for raising cattle and profiting off your own hard work, you will have a much greater chance of success when you purchase your cattle ranch.

Start Small

Starting your own ranch requires a significant frontend invest of time and money, so it’s best to start small so you don’t overburden yourself from the beginning. Hunt down some affordable cows to get started, then assess your budget to determine the best path for you moving forward. Once you have streamlined your daily tasks and developed a system, you can grow your ranch by adding additional calves and bulls.

Include Your Family

It takes more than one person to successfully manage a cattle ranch. By getting your family involved, you not only teach them valuable skills, you strengthen your bond with them and ease the burden of your daily tasks. If you try to manage all of your ranching responsibilities on your own, you will run yourself ragged, especially as a new rancher. You may find that members of your family possess special skills and talents that allow you to more effectively manage your ranch. By capitalizing on each others’ strengths, you can greatly improve efficiency on your ranch.

Maintain a Secondary Source of Income

When you first start your cattle ranch, you might be tempted to dedicate all of your time to it from the moment you sign on the dotted line and purchase your land, but taking things slow often leads to superior results. The initial investment of capital can be problematic for first-time investors, so maintaining a secondary source of income can help you offset the opening salvo of bills and other expenses.

Utilize Short-Term Loans

Once you start generating a profit from your ranch, you should continue to reinvest in more cattle and replacement heifers. Short-term loans can be used to help you fund your purchases. We recommend utilizing four-year loans to minimize your long-term financial obligations.

In part two, we will continue to provide tips for new cattle ranchers hoping to increase profits from their land investment.

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David Genho

David Genho is a Sales Associate who works with Coldwell Banker Commercial Saunders Real Estate providing expertise to land owners and investors with a focus on ranches and agriculture properties. David has an… Read More About David Genho »